When you experience one-of-a-kind attractions in a scenic geological landscape that is not replicable anyplace else in the U.S., you have arrived in North Dakota.
Eons ago, glaciers laid claim to much of what is now eastern and central North Dakota, resulting in a lush, fertile region that feeds into the contrasting eroded rocky slopes of the Badlands to the west. Wildlife thrives across every corner of the state, acting as a natural zoo for sightings of massive bison, elk, wild horses and bald eagles, just a few of the native species that roam North Dakota’s various habitats.
A picturesque location carved by time secured North Dakota’s title as one of the best places in the world to visit in 2026, according to National Geographic. The state’s appeal is no secret, attracting over 26.3 million tourists who contributed $3.4 billion in visitor spending in 2024, creating a $5.7 billion economic impact while supporting 40,000 jobs.
As a largely rural state, access to diverse outdoor recreation options can keep a trip as action-packed or as slow-paced as one could want. The state’s four seasons keep a unique itinerary on rotation year-round. Snowy winters provide smooth slopes for prime skiing or snowboarding at four scenic locations throughout the state through Huff Hills in Mandan, or the anticipated low temperatures to freeze over popular spots such as Devils Lake for ice fishing. The wildlife spotting isn’t bad either. From spring to fall, seasonal transitions bring North Dakota’s national and state parks to life, in addition to thousands of miles of public trails providing an ideal way to forget the schedule and wander.
With 10 recognized scenic byways and backways, sometimes the best way to encapsulate the state is to drive through it. These are routes that can’t be duplicated. The 32-mile Enchanted Highway delivers an array of metal sculptures, including the “World’s Largest Tin Family” or “Geese in Flight,” while others such as the Old Red Old Ten Scenic Byway share a deeper story behind North Dakota’s history. For those who pursue the Theodore Roosevelt National Park byway, soon you’ll have an interactive reason to stay awhile.
North Dakota’s parks, hiking trails and lakes are an ideal way to explore the state’s recreational offerings and sightseeing opportunities.
Photos courtesy of North Dakota Tourism
Take in the View
If it were not for vital time spent in the North Dakota Badlands following the loss of his wife and mother, Theodore Roosevelt said he likely would not have become the nation’s 26th president.
To honor him, the new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is being built in Medora. Unlike a typical library, this space is designed to highlight the natural landscape Roosevelt sought out to reshape his future.
The architecture — utilizing locally sourced and renewable materials — aims to blend seamlessly with its natural surroundings, as the building rises up along the northeast edge of the butte overlooking the Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Little Missouri River valley. Its structure will allow visitors to take in the landscape from both indoors and outdoors, providing rooftop elevations, floor-to-ceiling auditoriums, lawn seating and a nearly mile-long boardwalk blending into the site’s topography.
Photos courtesy of North Dakota Tourism
On the southeastern side of the loop, visitors walk through a shaded view of the grasslands housed within the boardwalk, which then flows into the grassland pause on the southern edge of the bluff. The boardwalk features built-in benches, offering a place to sit and reflect as your eyes wander across the Badlands. Moving onward, the boardwalk dips into a sunken path, taking you to eye-level with the soil surface to take notice of the foundational elements that make this region thrive. On the way back to the plaza, the last stop on the boardwalk is the bridge on the western side. The section extends out over the grassland, including hammock-like netting for open-air lounging.
Inside, the Presidential Library will house interactive exhibition areas, acting as a living classroom to inspire and educate the public on Roosevelt’s rise to the presidency and the importance of living sustainably. In practicing what it preaches, the site will run on the four zeros: zero energy, zero water, zero emissions and zero waste. Features including a solar array in the parking lot, water harvesting and carbon sequestration. Recycling and compost programs are among the ways the library will meet those goals.
The grand opening of the library is expected to take place on Independence Day in 2026.
Destination Development
Three years ago, North Dakota state leadership moved to provide targeted funding to enable new placemaking initiatives. Destination Development launched with $25 million in appropriated grant funding in its first biennium, on the hunt for projects that provide year-round tourism viability.
Applicants received support for the development or expansion of tourist experiences or attractions. Qualifying projects include accommodations, culinary experiences, themed education, entertainment attractions, agritourism attractions and focused niche activities. Destination Development offers up to $4 million toward each project, requiring a 1:1 match of cash or in-kind support with a 50% invoice reimbursement for cash match.
Following news of $15 million from the North Dakota Department of Commerce for the 2025-2027 biennium, Destination Development saw over 200 applications from 50 cities across the state last year. The result was $153.2 million in requested funding and a clear indication that the state’s communities know what they have to offer.
Photos courtesy of North Dakota Tourism
“What stood out most was not a single type of project but the common desire to create lasting assets that serve both visitors and residents,” says North Dakota Tourism Director Sara Otte Coleman. “Several proposals stayed with me because they came from rural areas and small communities that were thinking big and demonstrating tremendous commitment to making their experience a new attraction.”
The 23 selected projects in this round tackle various North Dakota-centric experiences, such as a new bunkhouse for the 6 Mile Lodge expansion at Devils Lake; transforming a former bowling alley in Hettinger into Jurassic Junction, a dinosaur-themed park; a new winery in Oakes; creating the Heartland Trading Post for agricultural products at a ranch in Rugby; and the creation of a Red Panda habitat at the Red River Zoo in Fargo.
One of the largest grants awarded this round went to the Urbain Cote Round Barn “RV” Farm in Dunseith.
“We were thrilled to receive the $3 million grant with the match waiver,” Rolette County Historical Society President Becky Leonard shared over Facebook messenger. “If we had not, a project of this magnitude would not have been possible.”
Leonard passed along the nonprofit’s business plan created for the project, which seeks to pursue an agritourism development on the 83-year-old dairy farm that features a 33-acre farmstead. The requested funding will be applied to activity including the Round Barn’s restoration with existing dairy equipment that can be leased for hands-on dairy demonstrations; creating a farm stand; developing small acreage for farmers market opportunities; a new petting zoo; and establishing the state’s first dairy museum.
The idea is to create a destination worth staying in for a while. In doing so, Leonard’s team will build a 40-unit RV “Farm” on the site, in addition to developing the Dunseith Rodeo Grounds with 14 unit RV/livestock trailer lots, a play space and public restrooms. A viewing platform for bird and wildlife watching will also be available, showcasing the region’s natural environment and views of the Turtle Mountains across the prairie.
North Dakota hosts the premier United Tribes International Powwow.
Photos courtesy of North Dakota Tourism
In addition to cultivating new job opportunities for the community, the project aims to build upon current tourism attractions in the region. Its proximity to known locations such as the Sky Dancer Casino and Resort at the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation, Lake Metigoshe or the Dale and Martha Hawk Museum — and location within the Turtle Mountain Scenic Byway — present more than enough reasons to extend a visitor’s stay.
Anticipation for the Urbain Cote Round Barn “RV” Farm is high in the community, as the project involves over 50 partnerships and letters of support. These partnerships bring together regional state colleges, public and private school systems, local small dairy producers, regional farmers markets, local government agencies and more to bring this vision to life.
“While tourism has been a priority in our larger communities and some regions like the Badlands, our major lakes and the Turtle Mountains, we are now seeing much broader interest statewide,” says Otte Coleman. “Communities are investing in amenities and experiences that complement those better-known destinations and invite travelers to explore farther and stay longer.”
Activity in Dunseith is a small taste of the new experiences coming to life in the state. Wherever a visitor’s itinerary may take them, it is guaranteed to be an experience that is distinctive to North Dakota.
